Coaster



July 28, 1931. w. H. NOTZKE COASTER Filed Oct. 14, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l"6 m h f nn umd Mm. W

uazzvafzzgmm ATTORNEY July 28, 1931; ,w. H. NOTZKE COASTER Filed Oct.14, 1929 2- She ets-Sheet 2 \W. nu mm wh v k N Nh \h. mm n 0R m u"&v s 1I an 1 a. N

mvzu'ron ATTORNEY Patented July 2 8, 1931 3 [UNITED STATES WALTER 3mmNOTZKE, or IEKIN, IL INoIs coAs'rna Application filed October 14, 1929.Serial no. 399,564.

This invention relates to toys, an object of the invention being toprovide a wheeled toy of the coaster type which may be readily steeredto control its direction of travel, or I which may be pulled'by means ofa tongue or handle after the manner of a toy wagon.

To this end, the invention provides a novel form of steering mechanismwhich may be readily operated, and which will remain in position untilpurposely changed, so that the toy will, when used as a coaster, travela given direction until a change is desired by the rider.

The invention further provides means for mounting the handle so that itmay be extended for use, or stored beneath the platform, means beingprovided for holding the handle in stored position.

With the above and other objects in view, 50 the invention furtherincludes the following novel features and details of construction, to behereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings and pointed out in the appended claims. In the drawings Figure1 is an elevation of the toy with the handle extended.

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional with the handle in stored position.Figure 3 is a bottom plan view with the parts in the position shown inFigure 2. I

Figure ,4 is an enlarged sectlonal view view taken substantially on theline 44 of Figure 2. Figure 5 is a section on the line 55 of Fi ure 4. r

.fieferring to the drawings in detail wherein like characters ofreference denote correspending parts, the reference character 10 0indicates the platform of the toy, and while only a platform is shown,it is obvious that side and end members may be removably or otherwiseattached to the platform so as to provide a wagon box or body.

5 The platform is mounted upon rear wheels 11 and the front wheels 12.The rear wheels are mounted upon the ends of an axle 13 and the latteris mounted in a substantially rectangular frame 14 which extends down- 0ward and is disposed transversely of the body. Bolts or other means 15serve to secure the frame 14 to V theplatform. Inclined bracesor hounds16 connect the frame 4 and the platform and serve to steady andstabilize the frame. I i The wheels 12 are mounted upon an axle 17 andthis axle is inturn mounted in the frame 18"similar tothe frame 14. Theframe 14 however is rigid with the platform, while the frame 18 ispivotally attached thereto as shown'at 19, so thatthe-wheels12 providesteering wheels. Braces or hounds 20 con nect the frame 18 with t-heplatform 10.

' Extending outward from] the front end of the platform is asubstantially U-shaped member or loop .21. The inner ends of this memberare secured to opposite faces of the I platform as shown at 22, whilethe outward forward portion of the loop is beveled or inclined as shownat 23. This end ofthe loop orinember 21 is' longitudinally slotted as at24 and slidable within this slot is a headed member 25"which carries atransversely arranged loop26. 1 t

' tongue 27 is slidable within the loop-26 and may be'extended as shownin Figure '1 of the drawings, studs28 serving to limitslid- 7 ingmovement of the tongue in onedirection. When in the-positlon as shown inFlgure 1 of the drawings, the'headed stud-25 is slid Jupwardalong theinclined portion of the slot 24 so that the loop 26 willbe inclined. 1The handle 27. is adapted to be stored beneath the bottom of theplatform and for this purpose a loop member 29 is secured beneath theplatform to receive the inner end of the tongue. The outer end of thetongueis provided with a cross member or handle 30. A

spring finger 31 which extends from this cross member or handle isdesigned to be extended through theslot 24 and yieldingly engage theU-shaped member 21 to prevent accidental outward sliding movement of thePivot-ally connected to the bar 32 as shown at 33 are the outer ends oflinks 34'. The inner ends of these links are pivotally connected to theframe 18 asshown at 35, so that" pivotal 9 chan movement of the bar 32will move the frame 18 pivotally and consequently move the wheels 12 soas to control the direction of travel of the toy.

Mounted upon the pivot 36 which serves to pivotally secure the bar 32within the U-shaped member 21 is a spring member 37:. This member isprovided with a sleeve or thimble 38 which surrounds the pivot 36. I Theopposite ends of the spring member 37 bear upon the bar 32- andare heldin position l upon this bar by means of offset portions 39 which enterpockets 40 provided in the bar.

This spring member thus frictionallyen gages the upper arm of the member21 and forces. the; lower face of thebar 32 into frictional engagementwith the lower arm of the member 21. The steering; bar 32 will thus be,evenly held. against pivotal movement so that the steering wheels 12will re-, main i3 adjusted position until purposely The thimble 38- istransverselyrectangular, and the pivot 36 is provided with a similarlyshaped portion 14, which passes through a rectangular openingv in themember 21, to prevent the; spring from turningxwhen turning. thesteering bar.. The invention is susceptible of various changes in; itsform, proportions and minor details of-construction and the rightisherein reserved; to make; such changes as properly fall within thescope, of the appendedclaims. Having described the invention what isclaimed is-: p

1. In a. toy, a wheel supported platform a loop slidingly secured to theextension, a handle slidable within the loop, whereby the handle may beslid beneath the platform, means beneath the platform to engage andsupport the handle, and means to hold the handle against outward slidingmovement when said handle is 'disposedbeneath the platform. v 5

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

I WALTER llERMAN NOTZKE.

includin-gpivotally mounted front steering wheels,- an elongatedsubstantially U-shaped member extending forwardly from thef'platform, apivottpin extending transversely through-the; anms'of saidmember, asteering bar having; spaced, sockets therein mounted for pivotal:movement between said arms upon saidv pin means" operatively connectingthe steering: wheels and bar, oppositely extending spring arms mountedupon therpivot pin: between:- the. arms of the'U shapedi meme er andbar, and. means extendingfrom, the

spring anus; to yieldingly' engage within the sockets and: yieldingly"hold the; steering bar against accidental movement;v

2; In a; toy, :11 wheel supported platform including pivotally'monntedfront steering wheels, a steering bar, means operatively connecting thesteering bar. and steering wheels to move the latter pivotally' when thesteering-bar is operated, means to pivotally supportithe' steering barfrom-the; plat"- form, a handle, means carried by the steering" barsupport to; slidingly receive the handle, whereby the latter'may beextended or stored beneath the platform, and means to holdithehandleinfs tored-positionp 3. In aqwh'eeled toy,;a platfornna projectionextending forwardly from therplatform,

